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Money Refunds.org.uk

FREE Practical Advice and Tips on how to get money back, replacements, credits, compensation and more for poor service and shoddy goods across the UK  

Holidays in the UK

Your holiday not turned out as expected? Location, service and accommodation not up to standard?

Who did you book with? direct with the owner? a travel agent? via the Internet, how did you pay, by credit card, cheque or cash?

Holidays are full of expectations, and often well advertised on TV, in newspapers, on web sites and in glossy brochures. What you expected and what you got may differ considerably to a point that you are due a refund or massive compensation, in some cases the validity of your claim is obvious, but proving it may not be easy unless you approach the claim in a systematic way backed up with an armoury of evidence.

Most people with the right knowledge can pursue a claim direct without using expensive legal advisors, it's only when normal discussions fall down that legal action becomes necessary.

Most UK travel agents belong to ABTA and you are wise always to book with Members of this organization - enquires and complaints above an individual travel agent may be directed to them, but pursue direct with the agent first before passing the problem to them at http://www.abtanet.com

Here is a check list to get things moving

• How did you come to book this holiday - what did you see which "sold you" on this option, brochure from travel agent, newspaper? collect the background and review what it claimed to offer.

• Who did you book via? direct with the owner? via a booking agent? - (an agent of the owner NOT you) or a travel agent? the person you paid is the person or firm to push not necessarily the provider of the holiday or accommodation. Although they may get involved with direct complaints over bad service or rooms etc they may be powerless to deal with refunds or compensations.

• What is the basis of your claim, what went wrong?

• Did others suffer the same problem - are you all claiming - or can they give evidence to support your claim? Remember the time to think about claiming is when evidence is around to collect such as photos of rooms, bad areas, collect names and addresses of other guests - trying to do it when you get home loses many chances.

• Was the problem caused by negligence of staff or management, or a natural disaster such as rain or flood etc?

• Have health and safety laws been broken? have any organisations taken up this case on behalf of the public generally and can they support your claim by providing proof, evidence etc?

• How much have you paid and how? paying by credit card can give extra protection and your card company may well listen to your case

• How long since the holiday? delaying making a claim can lessen your chances, the time to complain is during the holiday not a month after. Start to send out warning signals of a claim as soon as you know you need to claim - talk to people, make calls and visits.

• What offers have been made if any and by whom? Do these offers seem at all reasonable, a quick settlement may be worth considering, try and review any offers sensibly, often you are angry and annoyed and cannot always think logically. Think about any offer not just reject, which is a "spur of the minute" reaction.

• Do you have records of people, dates, times and locations, as well as names and addresses of other people who can support your claim?

• Is the supplier a Member of any trade organization? check they are, their Membership may have expired or been revoked or they may not have one at all. Your claim may jeopardize their Membership and give strength to your claim against them.

Check other sections for other tips on related matters.

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